Kia Seltos officially unveiled, to go on sale in India in August

The Kia Seltos has been officially unveiled at a special event in Delhi. The new model slots above the Kia Stonic globally, and it will go on sale in India in August.

In India, Kia will offer the Seltos with a naturally aspirated petrol engine, a turbocharged petrol engine and a turbocharged diesel engine.

The Kia Seltos looks very sporty and sophisticated, and it has been designed to appeal to customers in emerging markets like India and even developed markets like the USA.

On the outside, intricate and sharply designed full LED headlights and tail lights, LED DRLs and rear lamps, 3D multi-layer indicators and LED fog lights reflect the SUV’s sophistication. The wide tiger nose grille makes it instantly recognisable as a Kia, but not so obviously. The high shoulder line and sleek glasshouse shape, which tapers towards the rear of the SUV, lends sportiness, and so do the 18-inch premium crystal cut alloy wheels. The latter provide a powerful stance as well.

Moving to the interior, the design is aimed at youthful, tech-savvy buyers. The cabin of the Kia Seltos is characterised by broad, sweeping shapes and highly technical details. There’s plenty of comfort, convenience and connectivity tech present. High-quality materials give the SUV a very rich look.

In India, Kia will offer the Seltos with a naturally aspirated petrol engine, a turbocharged petrol engine and a turbocharged diesel engine. These engines will be paired with either IVT (CVT), 7-speed DCT, 6-speed AT or manual transmission. Internationally, the company will offer 177 PS 1.6L turbocharged petrol, 149 PS 2.0L naturally aspirated petrol and 136 PS 1.6L turbocharged diesel engines. These engines will be linked to a manual transmission, CVT, 6-speed AT or 7-speed DCT.

There’s no speak of an all-wheel drive system option for India or any other markets as of yet. The driver will be able to select from three drive modes, namely Normal, Eco and Sport.

The Kia Seltos will compete with the Hyundai Creta as well as C-SUVs like the Tata Harrier and MG Hector.

The Kia Seltos will be produced in Anantapur, India and Gwangju, South Korea. Expect the Indian launch to take place by the festive season. Its prices will likely start above INR 10 lakh (ex-showroom). Exterior colour choices will include Intense Red, Punchy Orange, Clear White, Glacier White Pearl, Steel Silver, Gravity Gray, Aurora Black Pearl and Intelligency Blue.